Metropolitan Issues Statement on Release of Final EIS for Colorado River Operations

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metropolitan Water District Assistant General Manager John Bednarski issues the following statement regarding the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s release today of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for post-2026 operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead.

"With Colorado River Basin snowpack and reservoir levels reaching historic lows, a new framework is vital for managing the river under increasingly challenging conditions. While we are disappointed that the seven Basin states have not yet been able to reach a consensus agreement, this proposed 10-year framework is the culmination of a lengthy process and represents a necessary step forward in managing a resource that is essential to millions of people across the Southwest.

“The framework released today provides a foundation, but in the absence of a seven-state agreement, every two years we will still have to negotiate and develop the operating agreements for how the river is actually managed and shortages are shared. That won’t be simple. We will need to work together more collaboratively than we have recently, and we will need to adapt to future changes in the river’s flow. Building a sustainable river will require conservation efforts from all seven states and all water users. Today’s framework highlights reduced deliveries to Nevada, Arizona and California, and Metropolitan is prepared to work with other California water users to make necessary reductions. But Lower Basin reductions alone are not enough to produce lasting sustainability for everyone who relies on the river.

“Despite the recent challenges in reaching a seven-state agreement, we believe consensus and compromise is possible, and today’s framework leaves the door open for collaboration and participation of all states in conservation. Metropolitan is committed and remains hopeful that we can all come together and negotiate a more durable, long-term agreement that avoids unnecessary litigation and provides the certainty that water managers need to plan for our future.”